Morgan easily made her way up the stairs to cabin eight, the glowing gold building was the Apollo campers cabin. Her locket, tucked under her t-shirt rested on her chest another reminder of why she was here, knocking on the door her foot tapped on the ground, waiting for the door to open. But when it did, it wasn't the person she was looking for.
"Morgan? What are you doing here? Is something wrong?" Will stood in front of her, looking confused as she shook her head, "no, I'm looking for Lee, I have something to tell him."
"Oh, he's teaching archery down at the range. A couple of the newbies needed a bit of help so they didn't accidentally shoot another camper, instead of the target." Thanking Will she headed down to the training area, her black and silver high-tops hitting the dirt as she ran past the sparring rings and towards the archery range. Hearing the sound of bows firing she ducked past one of the sheds seeing Lee standing behind five kids, probably between eleven and thirteen each holding a bow with a quiver of arrows slung over their backs.
Coming over to stand beside Lee she smiled when he noticed her, then stopped a twelve-year-old from shooting himself in the foot, saying loudly, "alright, let's take a break, everyone, back to your cabins!" A few grumbles came from the kids, but all five hung up their bows and headed for the cabins, and Lee came over smiling exhaustedly. "Hey, Lee." A smile spread across her face as he pulled her into a hug, and she returned it, and the kiss that followed. She and Lee had been dating for just over two years, and it was brilliant. But she knew her look of content was false, and Lee knew it too, "Morgan, what's wrong?"
Sighing she bit her lip before saying, "I've been assigned a quest Lee."
His face paled but as he locked eyes with her she could tell he was proud despite how worried he looked. "Really, when?"
"This afternoon, only about half an hour ago." She admitted, "I was packing my things when I realized..." trailing off she bit her lip looking down at the dirt beneath her feet. Both Lee and her had been planning on spending the rest of the summer together, she didn't know what his full plans were but now it looked like they were going to Hades, just like always. "It's alright," Lee said taking her hand, "you've got a quest. That's great. You've been here longer than almost anyone, if anyone deserves a quest it's you." A small smile split her face, but sadness rose twin to sheepish pride, "Lee, I probably won't be back for a while, I could be gone for a year, or more." Her voice faltered, and her head dropped, she didn't want to tell Lee, but he deserved to know.
"Wait, what type of quest is this?" Squeezing Lee's hand she said, "I'm being sent to protect a fifteen-year-old boy in England. Grace and I, we're to keep him safe, until the conflict going on comes to an end." She barely managed to keep her voice steady, and her free hand drifting upwards to the necklace that rested around her neck. The thin gold chain supporting the oval locket, still resting beneath her shirt, a gift from Lee just after the Titan War had finished. After she had nearly died from a poisoned blade, she'd been one of the lucky ones who had survived both the Battles of the Labyrinth and Manhattan and because of what had happened during the battles. Shuddering slightly at the memories she pushed them back, "oh, I see."
Looking up she met Lee's gaze, which was worried and sad, sighing she stepped in front of him, "I'm sorry, I guess I didn't realize how long this quest would take." Her head again dropped, a few strands of her hair slipping out of her braid and into her face, kicking at the dirt with her shoes. Toying with her t-shirt, before gentle fingers brushed aside her hair and she looked up to see Lee smiling.
"Hey I'm not mad, I'm just going to miss you, England's pretty far away from Long Island." A relieved smile split her face and she hugged him tightly saying, "thanks, I'll make it up to you once this whole mess is over." Lee smiled at her chuckling, "there's no need, just stay safe, and IM me when you can, alright?" Nodding she let him lay an arm over her shoulders and she leaned against him, the low sound of the conch caught their attention, and she turned to see campers, nymphs, and satyrs streaming towards the pavilion. "I guess it's time for dinner," she said looking up and added, "we should probably head to dinner." Her stomach rumbled in agreement and Lee laughed, "I'm pretty hungry." Lee nodded his own agreement still laughing as the two of them made their way to the pavilion. She knew she would have to leave the next day, but she was going to enjoy these last few hours at camp. Letting a smile settle across her face she grasped her locket, already steeling herself for when she would leave in the morning.